I think this year’s card might just be my favorite one yet. We were a bit intimidated at the thought of trying to get a toddler and a dog to cooperate, but give them a cookie and some cream cheese and you’ve got a sure fire way to keep their attention.

I’ve been tossing around ideas for a kitchen scene for a while, and Jon was never on board. When I suggested that he could be in the background pouring some booze into his coffee, he was suddenly a lot more interested. I figured my favorite cards have always been the ones where something funny has been happening (Jon tied up in the Christmas lights and Brady pulling Jon down the street), so we went with it. The original idea was for us to be dressed up in suit/tie/sparkles but last minute ditched the idea for pajamas.

Adelaide sat on her mark the entire time, happily gobbling down two very large chocolate chip cookies that we made earlier in the week. I was running back and forth putting cream cheese on the island so Brady would jump up and lick it. We had to take a small break to get him a step stool, because he was too short to really be seen in most of the photos.

This was our first year using lights. We don’t get great lighting in our apartment, so Jon brought home some strobe lights to light the set. I wish we had taken a photo of the entire setup, but it was too hectic to even think about it. My friend Ashley came over to stand behind the camera and to get Adelaide’s attention, which was crazy helpful.

^^I swear he wasn’t about to bite her. Adelaide spent a good amount of the shoot trying to snuggle Brady. She loves him so much. Seriously, she just loves her dog. Brady is so good with her, especially when she’s sneaking him food.

A few weeks ago our neighbors told us they were moving and if we wanted their apartment, it’s up for grabs. It’s still a one bedroom, and an identical layout to our current apartment, but it’s on the first floor.

Between the baby, the dog and the stroller, climbing a few flights of stairs has become a bit of an issue. There’s no where in the lobby to leave our stroller, so we’re constantly lugging it up and down the stairs. So we thought, “Move downstairs? Sure, why not?”

Turns out this little move is a big move. Moving is still moving. There are a few different things about this apartment than our old ones. Just a few inches here or there, but when you live in a one bedroom apartment with a baby, a few inches translates to a lot.

Jon came back from Thanksgiving early to get us moved in, and has been working like crazy to get us settled. I’m so thankful for that man who works so hard for his family. And my parents agreed to keep Brady until Christmas, which has just been the biggest help. We miss him like crazy, and I’m sad when I go to sleep that he’s not at the bottom of the bed keeping my feet warm. But the extra few minutes of sleep in the morning not having to get all bundled up and walk him has been a nice break. I’m excited to bring him back and when he sprints up the stairs to the third floor I’ll call him back and say, “No Brady, we live here now.”

In other news, Adelaide says “da da” like crazy, so I’m making it my sole mission in life to get her to say “ma ma”.

And her favorite toy is keys. And phones. And rocks. Anything but baby toys, really. Love that kid.

I have a feeling photos like these are going to be happening fairly frequently. We officially have a crawler on our hands, and just in time for her 8 month birthday. She sometimes scoots along on her butt, other times a full out crawl. And she’ll only crawl to something she really wants, which is almost always Brady’s food.

Poor Brady has had to sit and watch her play in his food, and last night even ate dinner while she played in his water. I make it a “rule” to not let her get near him while he eats. Not that he would ever do anything to hurt her, but this way it will never be an issue. She got to break the rule for a few seconds while I snapped these photos, then I praised Brady with lots of treats and pets for being such a good boy.

I’d also like to add that Adelaide still isn’t a big fan of solid foods, but dog food. Dog food, she’ll eat.

Brady so wishes he could be a country dog. He just loves sitting out in the sun in unbearably hot weather. He loves running through the gardens, rolling in the grass, chasing the ball as far as I can throw.

Luckily for him we’ve been visiting his grandparents an awful lot, so he’s definitely getting his fill of country living.

When we were on the hunt for a beach house we had to make sure it was enough space for all six adults and two babies, as well as be pet friendly and be on the water. And with easy access for Brady to swim (as opposed to a dock). We’re so those people, the ones who plan vacations around their dog’s interests.

But whatever, this dog loves to swim. Throughout the course of the day Brady manages to get all six of us out there at one point or another to throw the ball for him. I think he tries to ask me last, since I can barely get the ball into the water.

Then when we’re all inside at the end of the day, the babies sleeping peacefully, Brady sits in the center of the room and falls asleep sitting up.